logo
Bus service linking Waterford and Cork set to be enhanced

Bus service linking Waterford and Cork set to be enhanced

The enhanced route forms part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.
Route 363 and Route 364 will be combined and enhanced to operate ten daily return services between Dungarvan and Tallow and seven daily return services between Dungarvan and Fermoy Monday to Saturday.
On Sundays and public holidays, the enhanced route will operate seven daily return services between Dungarvan and Tallow and seven daily return services between Dungarvan and Fermoy.
A new route variant will be added to the service called Route 363a, which will provide four daily return services between Dungarvan and Ballyduff Upper from Monday to Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the launch, John Pratt, Chairman of TFI Local Link Waterford, welcomed the changes. 'We're very pleased to introduce these service improvements, which represent a real investment in rural transport.
'I want to extend a sincere thanks to the Ballyduff Community Council for their support and input throughout this process. We hope these enhanced services will prove valuable to all users, whether commuting, attending appointments, or simply connecting with their community,' said Mr Pratt.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Three-year construction of €274m Liffey Valley to Dublin bus corridor to begin in September
Three-year construction of €274m Liffey Valley to Dublin bus corridor to begin in September

The Journal

time2 days ago

  • The Journal

Three-year construction of €274m Liffey Valley to Dublin bus corridor to begin in September

CONSTRUCTION FOR THE first of 12 new BusConnects bus corridors in Dublin will begin in September and should take three years, costing over €270 million. The wider bus corridors programme aims to deliver 230 km of dedicated bus lanes and 200 km of cycling infrastructure in the twelve different corridor areas. The contract for the first bus corridor, the 9.2 km route from Liffey Valley to the city centre, has been given to Irish company GMC Group Ltd. The estimated total scheme cost of the route will range up to €274 million. The total budget for the overall BusConnects plan has been estimated at up to €4 billion. Speaking outside the National Transport Authority (NTA) today, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said the corridor will be 'transformational' for Ireland's public transport system, which last year transported a record of 30 million passenger journeys. He said: 'This is a significant investment on behalf of our citizens. It will be transformational'. Advertisement 'It's good in relation to quality of life for people that we have reliable and affordable and punctual public transport,' he added. The Liffey Valley to city centre corridor will start at Fonthill Road and connect with the new Liffey Valley Shopping Centre bus interchange, before continuing on to the city centre through Ballyfermot Village. The bus corridor is expected to improve the reliability and speed of bus services along the route. The corridor will also include 13.3 km of improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in both directions. BusConnects / YouTube The NTA says it will set up local area engagement groups and is finalising detailed communication arrangements to ensure that communities impacted by the BusConnects corridors are fully informed throughout the construction period. A dedicated website, phone line and email address will be made available for each scheme, along with regular updates and local outreach events. 'Public transport is critical for all of our cities, and it's particularly critical for our capital city. A lot of good work has been done over the years in relation to quality bus corridors, but the BusConnects corridors will be transformations,' O'Brien said. Related Reads Cabinet approves moving BusConnects ahead to planning stage Explainer: Here's what the revised BusConnects plan would mean for your bus route Hugh Creegan, interim CEO of the NTA said: 'We have reached a landmark moment for the BusConnects programme.' He said the programme offers a good opportunity for the NTA to invest in sustainable transport infrastructure across Dublin. The NTA have created a new framework agreement for construction, which includes six construction companies the organisation can procure contracts from for other schemes. Minister O'Brien said that a clear time frame for completion of the overall project is not yet available, as although all 12 routes have been granted planning permission, some of the decisions are currently subject to judicial review. 'In a short space of time, we'll be able to see the benefits of it. And while we're doing that, we're continuing to invest in our fleet,' he said. He said in the coming months the Department of Transport plan to sign the contract for the second bus corridor. O'Brien also confirmed that tap on services will not be available in Ireland until at least 2027. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

BusConnects route will come in ‘on time, on budget', says Darragh O'Brien
BusConnects route will come in ‘on time, on budget', says Darragh O'Brien

Irish Times

time2 days ago

  • Irish Times

BusConnects route will come in ‘on time, on budget', says Darragh O'Brien

Darragh O'Brien has pledged that the first of 12 BusConnect corridors in Dublin will come in 'on budget and on time'. Construction is due to begin on the 9.2km Liffey Valley to Dublin city centre route in September after a contract worth up to €274 million was signed with Irish company GMC Group Ltd. Announcing the launch on Thursday, the Minister for Transport said 'it's going to transform bus use within the city' along with significant cycling and walking facilities. Passenger numbers are predicted to increase by 58 per cent with faster travel times. The project is expected to take about three years, he said. Asked about the potential for delays, Mr O'Brien acknowledged he and interim National Transport Authority (NTA) chief executive Hugh Creegan would have responsibility. READ MORE But he said he emphasised to GMC that construction should be 'on time and on budget'. 'That's what we will do our level best to ensure and we have built contingency into this contract too,' he said. 'I think most people understand from a lot of the projects that we build here this is a medieval city. The routes have been mapped and have been surveyed as well. But we're looking at a three-year build on this. If we can do it sooner than that we will, but we're being realistic about it.' Planning for all 12 corridors has been approved, but a number remain subject to High Court judicial review. BusConnects aims to 'transform' bus services. The corridors will cover 230km of dedicated bus lanes overall with 200km of cycling infrastructure. The Liffey Valley scheme is to start at Fonthill Road and connect to the Liffey Valley shopping centre bus interchange. It will continue through Coldcut Road and Ballyfermot village before moving along Sarsfield Road, Grattan Crescent, Emmet Road, James's Street, Thomas Street and High Street, connecting to and the city centre transport network. It will be accompanied by 13.3km of improved cycling infrastructure. Mr O'Brien said the bus corridors were 'really significant', while the proposed MetroLink will be 'transformational ... not just for Dublin, but for the region, and indeed for our airport'. The railway line will link the city centre and Dublin Airport. He rejected comments by Ryanair group chief executive Michael O'Leary , who said the MetroLink project was a waste of money. Mr O'Brien said Ryanair has changed aviation across Europe, but 'this isn't just about the airport or airport connectivity'. North Dublin is a major growth area and MetroLink enabled further economic development for the airport, 'but above and beyond the airport, more housing development along the route, too'. The business case for MetroLink showed a €4 return on every €1 invested. 'It's a badly needed project,' he said, adding: 'We're the fifth-best connected airport in Europe. We're one of the few without a direct rail link into the city and beyond.' Asked about the introduction of contactless payments on public transport, Mr O'Brien said this should be phased in from the end of 2027 or in 2028.

Entry test for taxi drivers to be updated because use of online maps now ‘widely accepted'
Entry test for taxi drivers to be updated because use of online maps now ‘widely accepted'

The Journal

time25-07-2025

  • The Journal

Entry test for taxi drivers to be updated because use of online maps now ‘widely accepted'

THE ENTRY TEST for taxis, hackneys and limousines will soon be updated to reflect the fact that passengers now 'widely accept' the use of online maps. The Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) Driver Entry Test is designed to verify that new entrants to the industry are familiar with good practice and have a 'good working knowledge of the county in which you wish to operate'. This test must be passed by applicants before they apply for an SPSV driver licence. It consists of two modules: an Industry Knowledge Module, which assesses understanding of legislation and operational standards, and the Area Knowledge Module, which evaluates the applicant's familiarity with the county in which they intend to operate. The National Transport Authority (NTA) said it had undertaken a review with key stakeholders regarding this test. Its findings showed that while passengers still expect drivers to have a higher-than-average understanding of local geography, the use of online maps is now widely accepted. Advertisement As a result, changes will be made to the Area Knowledge module in an attempt to 'balance realistic and modern driver practices with the continued need for strong customer service'. The revised Area Knowledge module will place more emphasis on knowledge of motorways and transport hubs. It will also place greater focus on tourist attractions, hospitals, sports, theatre and music venues and, for urban centres, knowledge on major street names, one-way systems and city routes. To give applicants time to prepare ahead of the update to the test on 1 October, the 8th edition of the SPSV Industry Manual is now available on NTA's website. The current version will remain available and valid for test preparation until that date. Kevin O'Brien, Head of Transport Regulation of NTA, said the changes 'align with ongoing efforts to modernise entry into the sector'. 'By recognising the role navigation technology plays and focusing on the driver knowledge that genuinely supports passenger needs, we are making the entry process into the SPSV sector more relevant, fair and future-ready.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store